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Gerald Goodman's diagnosis is that San Diego is suffering from Tiger Woods Withdrawal. His hypothesis is that we've been spoiled.

Woods' absence from the Buick Invitational after 11 straight appearances helped turn Torrey Pines into a picturesque ghost town yesterday, but it is unlikely to evoke much sympathy from the directors of most PGA Tour stops.

You can't miss what you've never had.

“San Diego has been extremely fortunate,” said Goodman, the director of next month's Transitions Championship near Tampa, Fla. “I'm sure Tiger would like to get to everywhere for the sport he plays and loves. (But) we haven't had him and, no, we haven't given up.”

Goodman was reached during a layover in Atlanta last night, returning to Florida from a recruiting trip to Torrey Pines. Tournament directors often descend on the Buick Invitational because of the quality of its field and the potential windfall of wooing its six-time champion.

To a tournament director, landing Woods is like locating the Holy Grail. It means bigger crowds, better ratings, stronger sponsorship and a related spike in concessions and merchandise. It's probably no coincidence, then, that despite its proximity to Woods' Florida base, and a purse slightly higher than that of the Buick Invitational, Goodman's Tiger-free tournament is on its fifth title sponsor in nine years.

Spoiled? Darn right we've been spoiled.

“We're envious of anyone who's had Tiger that many times,” said Clair Peterson, director of the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill. “We had him here in 1996 as a sponsor exemption. Unfortunately, he has not returned.”

There is never enough of Tiger Woods to go around, and his postoperative absence has been keenly felt in all facets of golf. When Davis Love III characterized yesterday's turnout at Torrey Pines as the “best crowd” of the year, it was as much an indictment as a compliment (as well as confirmation that Love skipped the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Ariz.).

You could have fit some of yesterday's galleries into a golf cart and still found room for Corey Pavin. You could blame some of this on the weather, some on the workweek, some on the fragile state of the economy, but in any golf scenario, you have to start with Woods.

“When he gets hurt, it's like Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky in their prime taking a season off,” Love said. “It would take the air out of the ball.

“But it really has given a lot of guys an opportunity. . . . I saw two or three little kids in Tiger Woods hats watching us make birdies and they'll say, 'These guys make birdies, too.' So it's good for the game for people to realize there (are) a lot of great golfers out here and Tiger has to have somebody to compete against.”

The PGA's problem is that Woods has been so dominant for so long – with 65 tour victories and 14 major championships – that any competition conducted without him might as well carry an asterisk.

When Peggy Lee was asked to identify the greatest jazz singer, she replied, “You mean, after Ella (Fitzgerald)?” The same principle applies here: there's Tiger Woods, and then there's everyone else.

“I'm glad he's not here,” said Camilo Villegas, who seized a three-stroke lead with a 9-under-par 63 yesterday on Torrey Pines' North Course. “He plays pretty good around here, I can tell you that.

“But he'll be fine. He'll come back healthy. At the same time, I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward for him to come out here. The game of golf misses him.”

That Woods' absence is more keenly felt at Torrey Pines than other places is a testament to his unique stature and his many victorious visits. Woods might have made more history at Augusta National and St. Andrews, but neither of those venues needed his imprimatur.

At Torrey Pines, Woods is the undisputed king and last year's U.S. Open his crowning achievement. He has personally elevated the venue through his recurring presence.

“I was there recruiting Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,” said Tommy Fonseca, tournament director of New Orleans' Zurich Classic. “We're getting a lot of verbal (commitments). I'm feeling pretty confident that we've got a stronger field today.”

Fonseca would feel more confident, clearly, if he could prevail on Tiger Woods to show up.

“Any opportunity I have to get in front of Tiger, I do,” Fonseca said. “The door is always open.”

San Diego is spoiled. Its Tiger Woods Withdrawal figures to be fleeting.